Capturing Xiao Wu

Chapter 22: Capturing Xiao Wu

Tang San was dumbfounded by the sight. Was this Master? Where was that unshakable calm from moments ago, when even a collapsing mountain wouldn't faze him? And how did bird droppings happen to land right on Master's mouth?

What kind of teacher had he actually taken as his master? Tang San stood frozen in the wind, utterly bewildered.

"Teacher, are you alright?" After a brief daze, Tang San hurried forward to ask with concern.

However, worried about getting the bird droppings on himself, Tang San still kept some distance from Yu Xiaogang.

"Ugh, I'm not... ugh... fine." Yu Xiaogang spoke between heaves, simultaneously reaching out a hand to stop Tang San from coming closer.

And in that instinctive gesture, he happened to smear the bird droppings from his hand onto Tang San's face.

Tang San's expression shifted instantly, and he too bent over, retching.

Meanwhile, outside the academy, Lin Ye and his group had yet to leave.

Lin Ye held a stick of Sugar-coated Haws, teasing Lin Qiu'er with it. Lin Qiu'er opened her mouth to bite, but Lin Ye pulled it back, and she bit nothing, her small face puffing up in anger.

Then Lin Ye, with a mischievous grin, offered the Sugar-coated Haws again. Just as Lin Qiu'er was about to take a bite, he pulled it back once more. This repeated, and Lin Qiu'er stomped her feet in fury.

Lin Ye burst out laughing.

"Oh, there's a little rabbit." Bing Di suddenly looked to one side.

Hearing this, Lin Ye perked up instantly. He looked over and saw a lively Young Girl hopping toward them. She appeared to be about six years old, around the same height as Lin Ye. She wore a pink little dress, and a small pink pouch hung at her waist.

Her pretty little face was fair with a rosy flush, soft and tender like a ripe peach, making one want to take a bite.

Her long black hair was tied into a Scorpio Braid that hung past her hips, and her big, watery eyes curiously surveyed her surroundings.

Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. She and her mother had lived carefree in the great forest. One day, a group of human soul masters broke into the forest, their target being the mother and daughter. To protect her, her mother chose to stay behind and hold off those human soul masters. Xiao Wu escaped successfully, but her mother was killed by the humans.

She swore to avenge her mother, so she chose to transform into human form and enter the human world to find an opportunity for revenge.

Today was her first day in a human city. There were so many beautiful buildings, so many pretty clothes, and so, so many foods that looked delicious at first glance!

Just as Xiao Wu was looking around, a little boy blocked her path.

Xiao Wu blinked her big eyes and asked in a sweet voice, "What do you want? Why are you stopping me?"

"You're Xiao Wu?" Lin Ye asked.

Xiao Wu blinked, curious. "Ah, how do you know my name?"

Lin Ye smiled. "You could say I was waiting by the tree for the rabbit. Come with me."

As he spoke, he grabbed Xiao Wu by the wrist.

The word "rabbit" made Xiao Wu very sensitive, and seeing this person suddenly seize her, she panicked.

"What are you doing? Let me go! I need to report to the academy. Let me go now, or I'll scream." Xiao Wu struggled. Though she was a girl, her strength was considerable.

Unfortunately, Lin Ye was even stronger. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't escape his Evil Claw.

"Stop pretending. I could tell at a glance you're not human."

These words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving Xiao Wu utterly shocked. In that moment, she felt immense terror.

She knew very well what it meant for her identity as a transformed soul beast to be exposed.

From now on, she would either be killed or imprisoned.

In short, from this moment, she had lost her freedom.

A sense of despair spread through her heart. She never imagined her identity would be exposed the moment she arrived in the human world.

Suddenly, Xiao Wu noticed Snow Empress and the other two following behind. Her gaze fell on Snow Empress's arms, where the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was holding a stick of Sugar-coated Haws, nibbling on it contentedly.

Xiao Wu immediately thought this group had daringly captured the Auspicious Beast, and she grew furious. "The Auspicious Beast! You've captured the Auspicious Beast! You despicable humans, how dare you! Aren't you afraid of retribution..."

Lin Ye: "..."

Where did you get the idea it was captured by us? Sure enough, this Xiao Wu isn't too bright!

Lin Ye patted Lin Qiu'er's fluffy little head, then gave her rump a tap. "So what if it's an Auspicious Beast? Can't touch an Auspicious Beast's butt or something?"

As the saying goes, if you don't court death, you won't die!

Lin Qiu'er instantly bristled. They say a tiger's rear end can't be touched—did she, an Auspicious Beast, look easier to bully than a tiger?

She opened her mouth and chomped down on Lin Ye's hand.

Hiss!

Lin Ye sucked in a sharp breath of pain, quickly pulling his hand back. Looking closely, there were two rows of teeth marks on both the back and palm of his hand, the skin already broken.

"Damn, you actually bit me."

"Hmph, see if you dare touch my butt again." Lin Qiu'er bared her teeth, putting on a fierce expression.

"Fine, I'll remember this. One of these days, I'll shave all the fur off your body." Lin Ye refused to back down.

The two of them bickering left Xiao Wu dumbfounded. What was going on? How was the Auspicious Beast so familiar with this human child? The noble Auspicious Beast had its rear end touched, and this person came out unscathed?

No one answered her question.

And so, Lin Ye dragged Xiao Wu all the way back to his residence.

The atmosphere on the way back was somewhat heavy. Aside from the carefree Lin Qiu'er, both Snow Empress and Bing Di remained silent.

At the root of it, Xiao Wu's situation stirred a sense of shared sorrow among them—the fox grieving for the hare.

Lin Ye noticed this too, but there was nothing he could do. As long as soul masters needed soul rings, this contradiction would always exist.

Meanwhile, at Notting Academy.

Tang San, clutching a set of school uniforms, arrived at the dormitory building.

There were only seven dormitories for students. Since the students of the elementary Soul Master Academy were all relatively young, for better unified management, each grade lived together in one large dormitory.

Each dormitory had a teacher in charge.

Among these seven dorms, the Seventh Dorm was rather special. It was specifically for Work-Study Students, and it was also the only dorm where ages were mixed—regardless of grade, all Work-Study Students lived here.

Likewise, the conditions were the worst.

After all, the academy wasn't a charity. Since the Work-Study Students' tuition was waived, their treatment couldn't be as good as that of ordinary students.

The door to the Seventh Dorm was open. Seven or eight children were making noise inside, ranging in age from about eight to twelve.

Tang San's appearance caught the attention of the group. The one who looked the oldest walked over, looked down at Tang San, and asked, "New Work-Study Student?"

"Hello, I'm a Work-Study Student from Holy Soul Village." Tang San offered a smile.

"My name is Wang Sheng. Martial Soul: War Tiger. Future Battle Soul Master. I'm also the head around here."